Rockets bid farewell to 3 over-agers
Special to The Okanagan Weekend
Every year each club must say goodbye to their over-age players as they graduate from the Western Hockey League, and move on to life after junior hockey. For some, that means continuing to chase their hockey dreams.
For others, it means cashing in on their WHL scholarship at post-secondary education.
And some over-agers may even begin working full-time as they enter into adulthood.
This year is no different, as the Kelowna Rockets bid farewell to defencemen and assistant captains Gordie Ballhorn and James Hilsendager, along with their leading goal-scorer Carsen Twarynski, a forward and Philadelphia Flyers prospect. With Thursday’s 5-3 loss to the Tri-City Americans — who swept the Rockets from the first round of the WHL playoffs — Ballhorn completed his third full season with Kelowna. Dating back to the 2015-16 campaign, he played in 175 regular-season games for the Rockets, recording 11 goals and 49 assists for 60 points. The steady blueliner added 181 penalty minutes and a plus-71 career rating. He also had four assists in 39 playoff games.
Ballhorn wore an ‘A’ for the Rockets for both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
His final season was a career year in all categories, as the Wetaskiwin, Alta., native was one of only two players on Kelowna’s roster to play all 72 games this season. Ballhorn scored a career-high six goals, and added a career-high 36 assists for a new career high in points at 42. He also won the team’s Plus/Minus award at plus-37.
The six-foot, 195-pound defender was also named a co-winner of the Humanitarian award this season for being an outstanding character on the ice and in the community.
Hilsendager completed his second season with the Rockets and fourth in the WHL. Hilsendager began his junior hockey career in Regina playing for the Pats. In 135 games with the Pats, Hilsendager recorded one goal and 17 assists for 18 points. His offensive numbers exploded once he arrived in Kelowna via trade during the 2016-17 season. In 100 games played for the Rockets, Hilsendager notched 12 goals and 36 assists for 48 points to finish his WHL career with 13 goals, 53 assists and 66 points in 235 games. The Lloydminster, Sask., native also had 258 career penalty minutes.
In 36 playoff games split between the two clubs, Hilsendager netted one goal and six assists for seven points. He also finished his career wearing an ‘A’ this season.
Twarynski wrapped up his fourth WHL season and second with the Rockets.
Beginning with the Calgary Hitmen during the 2014-15 season, the Calgary native recorded 36 goals and 52 assists for 88 points in 161 games for his hometown team.
Acquired by the Rockets at last year’s Jan. 10 trade deadline, Twarynski found a new stride in his offence with Kelowna. In his first portion of a season, Twarynski tallied seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 28 games to end the 2016-17 season.
Then, as an over-ager this season, he took over in an elder role, leading Kelowna in goals with 45 while adding 27 assists for 72 points in 68 regular-season games. Adding it all together, Twarynski totalled 88 goals, 94 assists and 182 points in 257 games.
He was drafted by Philadelphia in 2016 in the third round (82nd overall) and signed his first pro contract — a three-year entry-level deal — earlier this month.